TECHNOLOGY | July 10, 2017
One
year ago, Philippine president Rodrigo R. Duterte stated in his first State of
the Nation Address (SONA) that the government is planning to launch two state-run
channels that are dedicated to Muslim and Lumad communities all over the
country. One of these plans is bearing fruit with the recent launch of Salaam
TV as a digital subchannel of People's Television Network.
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| (Image Source: Philstar.com) |
Currently
running under test broadcast and slated to be officially launched in about two
weeks from now, Salaam TV is focusing solely on the life and culture of
Filipino Muslims with dedicated programs that offer news, information and
entertainment that cater to the viewing taste of Muslim families and
communities. It is learned that the government has installed PTV News' Habibab
Sarip-Paulah as the network's general manager. Those who have watched her in
any of the PTV newscasts may know her as the first Filipina newscaster to wear
a hijab in a national news program.
Many
areas in the Philippines are yet to embrace digital terrestrial television
(DTT) which provides clearer television viewing and unique features, but Salaam
TV is poised to become an avenue where the voice of the Filipino Muslim
communities will be heard in the near future once the transition to digital
free TV is fully implemented, which is a clear statement that there is more room
for diversity to shine brighter in today's modern world.
Anyway, I will keep you an update on more details regarding the new channel so stay tuned for that in the coming months. Oh, and for those who are wondering about the other channel that is set to be dedicated to Filipino Lumads, you may have to wait for further details and announcements about that which is possibly within or after the next State of the Nation Address which is in a few weeks from now.
